Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I disagree with the Minister. On every step of the procedure in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal, the courts held with the Minister. They said that he was within his powers to bring in this policy. It was the right thing to do for conservation purposes and on every step of the way the courts agreed with him.

Unfortunately, the Department and the Government failed in their consultation process in respect of Europe and England. It is a vital piece of the Minister's obligation that he communicates with Europe and with England in respect of the impact of this policy. He failed to do that. What is the result of his inquiry into the Department as to how it failed to comply with its obligation that has now led to this debacle, where the policy has been set at naught and there is absolutely no protection?

The Department is on notice for a very long time that the Government was running with it in respect of the nature of the policy and its objectives. The difficulty was simply in respect of the Department's communication obligations, which it failed to comply with. That is all. When will the Minister see the policy up and running again?

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